The Russian Federation and Russian officials, who have waged war against Ukraine and actually committed mass murders, will bear criminal responsibility.

"The Russian Federation and Russian officials, who have waged war against Ukraine, will be held accountable - they will be liable not only financially but bear criminal responsibility as well. One way or another, the people who have unleashed war, who have actually committed mass murders, will bear criminal responsibility," the minister said.

He noted that the war with Russia was not only on the battlefields, but in courts too. For the first time in the history of the international justice system, Ukraine has initiated a number of actions, unprecedented for international courts.

"This includes European Court of Human Rights, which is now considering three major claims of Ukraine against Russia, and the international courts of arbitration, which our state-owned companies, state-owned banks, and private companies appealed to in order to compensate the losses associated with the occupation of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk. There is also a major claim, which is now being prepared and will be filed to the International Court of Justice," Petrenko reminded.

According to the minister, Ukraine realizes that Russia will offer heavy legal resistance.

"Russia will be protecting itself procedurally in every possible way, because it has got no evidence to prove its point. Under all laws of justice, international law, and all human laws we have the point here for this is our territory, this is our land. They have invaded it and they are the aggressors and barbarians, whose actions in Europe in the 21st century have actually mirror-imaged the ones committed in the 20th century during the Second World War," Petrenko said.

The minister also expressed confidence that the leaders of the Russian Federation will be held accountable for the crimes associated with MH-17 crash.

"The issues concerning the international criminal court are sound. MH-17 downing is meant. Several countries have already announced establishment of an international tribunal. The investigation is close to its end and this tribunal will name those guilty in the crash. I'm sure the leaders of the Russian Federation will be named," the official said.

All materials published on this website that cite Interfax-Ukraine news agency as a source should not be further copied and/or redistributed in any other form without written consent by Interfax-Ukraine news agency.